San Miguel Beermen got its second-straight win in the PBA after crushing TNT KaTropa of the best-of-seven finals, ending with 115-91, last Sunday, July 2, 2017 in front of the 10,000 fans at the Big Dome. This is their first PBA Commissioner’s Cup title after the year 2000.
"Both of us deserved to win the championship, but we're really fortunate, because my players really wanted to win. This is the Cup that we haven't won in the last 17 years," said SMB coach Leo Austria.
Beermen’s Alex Cabagnot, being the Finals’ Most Valuable Player aced the average 20.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals all 4-2 series.
Despite one of the team’s important aces Junemar Fajardo’s stiff gameplay who only contributed two points and four rebounds, SMB managed to rain down the multi-colored balloons.
The Best Import of the conference Charles Rhodes shot 30 points in the ring, while the Best Player of the conference Chris Ross charged 14 points.
KaTropa’s Troy Rosario led 21 points in the show, with rookie Roger Pogoy landing 16 points for the team, and their import Joshua Smith contributing 15 points.
SMB got the swollen lead of 29 points in the fourth quarter after Austria left the game to his benches’s shoulders.
One championship away and San Miguel is going the Grand Slam journey.
THE SCORES:
SAN MIGUEL 115 - Rhodes 30, Lassiter 24, Cabagnot 19, Santos 17, Ross 14, Espinas 5, Semerad 4, Fajardo 2, De Ocampo 0, Heruela 0, McCarthy 0, Van Opstal 0, Agovida. 0,
TNT 91 - Rosario 21, Pogoy 16, Smith 15, Castro 13, De Ocampo 7, Garcia 7, Williams 4, Tautuaa 4, Rosales 2, Semerad 2, Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 37-26, 62-42, 94-69, 115-91.
(Disclaimer: Photo Courtesy of Tristan Tamayo, Philippine Daily Inquirer)
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